"An Act authorizing the President of the United States
to accept the services of volunteers, and to raise an additional regiment of
dragoons or mounted riflemen...

Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That there shall be
raised and organized, under the direction of the President of the United States,
one additional regiment of dragoons or mounted riflemen, to be composed of the
same number and rank of the officers, non-commissioned officers, musicians, and
privates composing the regiment of dragoons now in the service of the United
States, who shall receive the same pay and allowances, be subject to the same
rules and regulations, and be engaged for the like term and upon the same
conditions, in all respects whatsoever, as are stipulated for the said regiment
of dragoons now in service.

Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That the President
of the United States may disband the said regiment whenever, in his opinion, the
public interest no longer requires their service; and the sum of three hundred
thousand dollars, required to carry into effect the provisions of this act, is
hereby appropriated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated...

Approved May 23, 1836".

With these words, and the the requisite $300,000.00, a
new regiment, the Second Regiment of Dragoons is formed on paper.
Appointments made David E. Twiggs Colonel, Williams S. Harney Lt. Colonel,
and 30 Captains, Lieutenants, and 2nd Lieutenants for the 10 new companies.
Three companies were to be recruited each in Missouri, Virginia, and New York.
The tenth company (D) transferred from the first regiment from whom they
were detached and already serving in Florida. The regiment's first hostile
action came on July 19, 1836 when this company, commanded by Capt. Ashby,
repulsed a Seminole attack on the supply train they escorted. Casualties
included Private Holmes killed and ten men wounded. Through the privations
typical of the whole Florida campaign, this company was reduced by exhaustion
and sickness to 1 officer and 19 men by the end of 1836.

Orders in December that year called for forming the
recruits into the 10 companies of 60 men each. On Christmas Day companies
E, F, G, and H sailed from New York to Charleston where company I joined them.
They soon proceeded under Lt Col. Harney to Florida, arriving in January.
Just 2 days after arriving at Ft. Mellon (Feb 8), that post and companies
E, F, G, and H along with some artillery crew received a 3 hour series of
attacks by 200 Seminoles. The attacks were repeatedly repulsed, resulting
in significant casualties on both sides including the death of Capt Mellon, 2nd
Artillery, and wounding 6 enlisted Dragoons and 8 artillerymen.

In April 1837 the remaining companies (A, B, C, and K)
and the regimental headquarters moved to the new training facility at Jefferson
Barracks under Colonel Twiggs. "As fast as the green horses were received
they were introduced to their future proprietors -- equally verdant, in many
instances -- whose ambitious 'mounting in hot haste' frequently resulted in a
dismount, for quickness of time and variety of motions unparalleled in the
tactics." Orders in August set in motion the first of many extraordinary
overland marches by the 2nd Dragoons. Col. Twiggs and his detachment left
St Louis on September 5, and arrived at Jacksonville Florida after a march of
1200 miles in just 55 days. The local newspaper reported that "We were
surprised to witness the fresh and healthy appearance of this body of officers
and men... The condition of the horses, at the same time struck us
forcibly as evidencing a high state of order and attention."

The campaigns seemed to go on and on and on. The
following poem explains:

Ever since creation,By the best calculation,The Florida war
has been raging;And 'tis our expectationThat the last
conflagrationWill find us the same contest waging.

The campaigns meant repeated scouts, skirmishes, pitched battles and
lengthy marches through an equatorial swamp. Their adversaries were
intelligent, skilled, illusive, and determined. While in many instances
the Dragoons were successful, the campaign did not completely subdue the
Seminole nation.

In the midst of all this, part of the regiment got a break.
Companies A, E, G, H, I, and K left Florida in late May, 1839 enroute to a
newly organized camp of instruction. They passed through Fort Columbus NY and
landed at Fort McHenry, Baltimore harbor. While in Baltimore and
later Trenton NJ, the "...Corps of Dragoons now quartered at Ft McHenry is
said to have attached to it a band of musicians which for number and masterly
performance is not exceeded by any other in the country." - Baltimore
American.

After a summer and early fall spent in recruiting, equipping, and
drilling, the "right wing" of the regiment was reviewed by Inspector General
Wool who reported, "It affords me the pleasure to say that the Second
Dragoons, under arms, appeared extremely well, and the rank and file as
fine-looking men as I have ever inspected in the service of the United
States..."

On November 10, these companies left once again for Florida, arriving
before the year was out. During this period, an explanation is found for the
Army's "Hoo-ah" phrase of greeting, ascent, and celebration. A Seminole
leader, Coacoochee, visiting the Garrison at Ft Cummings for a meeting with the
U.S. officials, inquired about the brief greetings the officers used before
drinking. After an explanation was given "the chief with great dignity
lifted his cup, and elevating it above his head, exclaimed in a deep,
[triumphant] voice, Hough!" Our regiment's history indicates the word
at once became adopted by the officers of the Eighth Infantry and Second
Dragoons, and it's use spread rapidly through the whole army.

After further campaigning, Companies A, D, E, F, and G were ordered out of
Florida on October 17 1841. These troops proceeded to Forts Jesup in Louisiana
and Towson in Arkansas. The remaining companies continued on campaigning
until orders issue May 29, 1842 sent them towards Baton Rouge Louisiana.
While waging the war in Florida, the Second Dragoons lost two officers and
20 enlisted killed in action. Additionally, five officers and 192 enlisted
died of the effects of the climate or disease.

(editors note: this period of American history is particularly difficult,
considering the tragedy suffered by the American Natives at the hands of the
ever growing immigrant population from around the world. Soldiers are the
tools of their society. Society sometimes makes grave errors in using
their soldiers. Thank God we are a democracy founded upon, and growing
ever successful at living by principles that minimize these errors.)